As is already known, BW is quite the mechanical game. When you hit the late game and are trying to keep track of everything as well as hit your opponent were it hurts to eventually take the game, you are facing a very steep wall that only the very best are able to climb comfortably. By the end of a 40-50 minute back and forth game, you feel like you've just finished a workout, but nothing comes close to feeling the same after you've won too.
This brings me to the main point. I've been embroiled in an argument with a friend for several years now and while it's true that a long game can be physically exhausting, how many here have been unable to sleep or work afterwards (say 10-15 minutes break) after playing a really long back and forth game? Is BW an exhausting enough game to play to the point where you feel you just can't sleep or work right after, even with a short break?
I personally don't have much of a problem since 15 minutes is more than enough time imo. However, everyone is different and this is certainly an interesting question so I'd like to hear your thoughts on it guys. I also added a poll for those lurkers who are too shy to post haha and posted a video of July vs Rock for what is one of the coolest moments in SC history!
It's exhausting, but many of my favorite things in life are. I also consider bw a great 'brainxercise', and that is related to it being mentally draining.
So I don't think it's too exhausting - however, I generally prefer activities that demand something of me rather than ones where I can just.. chill. I get that people who feel differently will also feel the game is too exhausting.
Mentally challenging game, even to the point of exhaustion - I assent. And it is exactly why I adore the game. But physically - not at all. I mean, let's just look at the muscles involved, none of them are large muscle groups, the ones that need much ATP. While brain labour can have some external signs, even sweat, it is not the sweat and strain of actual manual work. It is more akin to stress sweat, the kind that some people show when they are on an exam or in a situation they consider threatening, for example.
I don’t think BW is at all mechanically exhausting, there’s just so, so much knowledge you need to play even competently that that’s tough.
I played a bit casually way back when. Then got really into WC3, then SC2
Then I go back to try and learn BW competitively and, well that’s a learning experience. Even little things like having different FFE layouts for different maps.
The actual mechanical side of it is fine I find it quite rhythmic and relaxing in a weird way.
I'd prefer if you'd change the wording to just "exhausting" and drop the "too", because the word "too" implies that it's undesirable, but that's just the nature of BW and many other challenging and interesting things out there.
In my experience, it's more than just being exhausting, it's like playing an intense (mental) sport, I can't fall asleep 15 minutes after that, my mind will continue running intensely. Naturally, if I were already tired from doing other stuff earlier in the day, it's not something I'd be doing before I sleep.
On November 22 2019 05:01 FlaShFTW wrote: It's exhausting trying to get find a game against Bigfan because he always dodges.
Physically exhausting? Hell no. My HR goes from like 40-45 up to about 55-60 when playing. Equivalent to standing still chatting to someone.
Mentally exhausting though, sure! It's a good stress, but it's high stress and high focus. I could see how a hyper competitive type could find it so stressful they wouldn't be able to sleep or focus for a bit afterwords. I dont bring quite that level of intensity to ladder, so I've never experienced that personally. Heck I slept like a babe after playing 24 hrs straight!
Like all things YMMV. What we can agree on is that its exceedingly fun 🔥😁
The OP topic in question doesn't really have a definite answer from a casual/non-professional perspective, whether BW is physically exhausting or not really depends on your baseline apm, level of competitiveness and fitness level. Im not physically fit and yet i try to maintain a high APM which leaves me particularly exhausted (fingers literally feeling crampy) even after a couple of games. in contrast i can play more passive games like FPS/MOBAs/RPG type of games for an entire day without a sweat.
professionally though, there's hardly any games I can think of that reaches the levels of physical demands that BW requires, fighting/rhythm games osu/DDR maybe? or beat saber ? though never tried that lol
On November 22 2019 23:08 L_Master wrote: Physically exhausting? Hell no. My HR goes from like 40-45 up to about 55-60 when playing. Equivalent to standing still chatting to someone.
Mentally exhausting though, sure! It's a good stress, but it's high stress and high focus. I could see how a hyper competitive type could find it so stressful they wouldn't be able to sleep or focus for a bit afterwords. I dont bring quite that level of intensity to ladder, so I've never experienced that personally. Heck I slept like a babe after playing 24 hrs straight!
Like all things YMMV. What we can agree on is that its exceedingly fun 🔥😁
Please, spare some pussy for the rest of us are frail nerds here
On November 23 2019 15:04 ggsimida wrote: The OP topic in question doesn't really have a definite answer from a casual/non-professional perspective, whether BW is physically exhausting or not really depends on your baseline apm, level of competitiveness and fitness level.
I believe the aim is to have a survey of our personal and subjective experiences, not to get a definite answer.
Most people have their engines running on all kinds of wrong gears all the time. They also put in the sand of absurdly misguided convictions. In quantities so large, they will go aggro on you, if you try to talk them out of it. Most any demanding activity, mental or physical, is exhausting for them.
Then they attribute responsibility to the activity. And other external factors. Not to their misunderstanding, false ideas, lack of study, lack of care, lack of reflection, lack of adequate performance training.
There are exceptions, to a degree. The more of a newbie you are, the more chunks of activity are demanding conscious effort on your part. Playing an entire game can be exhausting but at that level of practice, you should be isolating smaller chunks of skill to master, first. But then again, most people are hopelessly clueless on how to practice, how to train, how to learn and things that matter.
They are busy arguing about even more hopelessly clueless opinions on politics and other subjects they know so little of, and misunderstand so badly, that they know more about all of them than anybody else.
There is no reason it should be exhausting. Demanding and tiring after long hours of practice, let's repeat that, long hours of practice, sure - but not exhausting. You can play many games and with proper, informed preparation, breaks in between, style of practice matching the level you're at and so on - it should feel more like gliding on the ice with selected elements out of your comfort zone that systematically challenge you, the ones you practice refining.
That's not something most people are familiar with. Most people are familiar with bashing their heads against the wall for long enough that the wall falls and then talking about their universe of excuses, complaints and so on - as well as ridiculing, attacking, shaming and trying to bring down approaches that challenge their particular, well-trained style of bashing their head against the wall.
Now, that's just my opinion, anyway. It's probably really inaccurate at some points.
On November 24 2019 22:33 coffeesession wrote: Absolutely not.
Most people have their engines running on all kinds of wrong gears all the time. They also put in the sand of absurdly misguided convictions. In quantities so large, they will go aggro on you, if you try to talk them out of it. Most any demanding activity, mental or physical, is exhausting for them.
Then they attribute responsibility to the activity. And other external factors. Not to their misunderstanding, false ideas, lack of study, lack of care, lack of reflection, lack of adequate performance training.
There are exceptions, to a degree. The more of a newbie you are, the more chunks of activity are demanding conscious effort on your part. Playing an entire game can be exhausting but at that level of practice, you should be isolating smaller chunks of skill to master, first. But then again, most people are hopelessly clueless on how to practice, how to train, how to learn and things that matter.
They are busy arguing about even more hopelessly clueless opinions on politics and other subjects they know so little of, and misunderstand so badly, that they know more about all of them than anybody else.
There is no reason it should be exhausting. Demanding and tiring after long hours of practice, let's repeat that, long hours of practice, sure - but not exhausting. You can play many games and with proper, informed preparation, breaks in between, style of practice matching the level you're at and so on - it should feel more like gliding on the ice with selected elements out of your comfort zone that systematically challenge you, the ones you practice refining.
That's not something most people are familiar with. Most people are familiar with bashing their heads against the wall for long enough that the wall falls and then talking about their universe of excuses, complaints and so on - as well as ridiculing, attacking, shaming and trying to bring down approaches that challenge their particular, well-trained style of bashing their head against the wall.
Now, that's just my opinion, anyway. It's probably really inaccurate at some points.
I agree, in a weird sense I find such games relaxing. Going mano o mano against your own weaknesses in a complex game of an almost infinite ceiling. It’s stimulating, you can always get better and push it out, plus it’s a bloody fun game.
There’s a difficulty but a simplicity to the activity too, that I find relaxing because it’s just about me, the game and not other people’s bullshit, which I find exhausting.
Having to argue politics with people who don’t know the subject that they’re pontificating on but yet won’t concede that is infinitely more exhausting than the beauty of Brood War (or other RTS games I like). Personal taste of course.
On November 22 2019 05:01 FlaShFTW wrote: It's exhausting trying to get find a game against Bigfan because he always dodges.
You don't try hard enough scrub. You need to quit LoL or w/e it is you now play if you are to stand a chance against me
On November 22 2019 20:33 JieXian wrote: Happy Birthday!
I'd prefer if you'd change the wording to just "exhausting" and drop the "too", because the word "too" implies that it's undesirable, but that's just the nature of BW and many other challenging and interesting things out there.
In my experience, it's more than just being exhausting, it's like playing an intense (mental) sport, I can't fall asleep 15 minutes after that, my mind will continue running intensely. Naturally, if I were already tired from doing other stuff earlier in the day, it's not something I'd be doing before I sleep.
Well, I mean, sure, but syntax isn't that big of a deal here imo. It's about whether you're about to concentrate on other tasks after finishing a long BW session if you are given 15 minutes to relax.
I think it's too exhausting to be fun for some people, but I guess that's not really your question. I'd be surprised if it is so physically or psychologically tolling that some people have trouble sleeping or working right after. I'm sure intense games raise your heart rate or blood pressure or something, but once the game is over I feel pretty calm after a minute or two. That said, I'm also terrible at the game, so maybe the better you are the more exhausting it is?
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: I used to get andrenaline shakes after a game of broodwar, but not anymore. Never felt physically exhausted like I was physically exercising though.
I have gotten "the shakes" when I'm playing different games like BW, WC3 or DotA, when I felt like I was about to win someone who was a lot better than me.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: Also that 40-50 heartrate wtf, do you have a body of Adonis Bisu?
Better, he has the body of LMaster. You would understand if you watch his streams.
On November 25 2019 16:06 BigFan wrote: Well, I mean, sure, but syntax isn't that big of a deal here imo. It's about whether you're about to concentrate on other tasks after finishing a long BW session if you are given 15 minutes to relax.
Because of the word choice, some people seem to think that some of us are whining or something. I'm not sure what your aim is but I think you understand my position on the matter, that I need to wind down after a game and can't go to sleep immediately after, just like how we can't go to sleep immediately after jogging for 30 minutes. Additionally, I don't want to go "jogging" for 30 minutes at the end of a long day.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: I used to get andrenaline shakes after a game of broodwar, but not anymore. Never felt physically exhausted like I was physically exercising though.
Also that 40-50 heartrate wtf, do you have a body of Adonis Bisu?
Usually like 45 resting or so by Fitbit, mid 30s sleeping. I race bikes and such things so cardio fitness is pretty good. It definitely goes up a little playing BW, towards 60, but that's similar to what I see standing. Little less than I see walking.
Mentally taxing though, that's a whole different ballgame. A few hours of BW can leave me feeling "drained".
EPT
